Must-win Stormers out to secure own URC fate on daunting Euro tour: 'We know what's at stake'

It's all too close for comfort as the Stormers - United Rugby Championship (URC) winners in 2022 and runners-up in 2023 - head into a two-game European tour with an awful lot to gain but also to lose. 

The URC playoff places are far from solidified and, with three rounds of regular fixtures remaining, the Stormers find themselves still in the mix to host a quarter-final, but could also miss out on the playoffs entirely should results not go their way. 

That daunting journey starts with a clash against Dragons in Wales on Friday night (20:35, SA time) - and, with their final two matches in regular season against Ireland's Connacht away and then the Lions at home, the Stormers know that anything but victory on Friday night would be catastrophic.